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The best way to see Cape Town & its surrounds
Sightseeing by motorcycle is like the edgy, rock n roll cousin of coach touring: windows are replaced by goggles, air-conditioning by the rushing wind, a microphoned commentary by a murmour. It isn’t always comfortable, but there’s never a dull moment – and the freedom it affords is exhilarating. It’s also perfect for experiencing what is…
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Why you should visit South Africa’s ‘French Corner’
Translated ‘French Corner’, Franschhoek is a small piece of France just outside of Cape Town, where fine wining and dining meet small boutiques and big scenery. Surrounded by pretty vineyards and nearby mountain outcrops, the French originally settled Franschhoek in the 17th and 18th centuries – and the Gallic influence stills shows today, mostly in…
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Table Mt & 9 other reasons to visit Cape Town
From a New7 Wonder to District 6, there’s plenty to see and do in Cape Town. A place at the Table Cape Town’s star attraction, Table Mountain, is ironically also its most temperamental. While most visitors to Cape Town long to scale the famous peak, many don’t actually make it, thanks to the mountain’s famous…
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The streets where world leaders meet
Inanda might seem like many other South African townships, but it’s one with a past like no other. There must be something in the water in Durban. And it isn’t the surfers who are riding its clean breaks. Rather, there’s magic in its townships, specifically Inanda, where national leaders have been born, international icons resided…
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Random musings … on Nagasaki
After visiting its most high-profile attractions – like Peace Park, Oura Cathedral and Glover Garden – we conclude our visit to Nagasaki with some of the prefecture’s lesser known, but equally fascinating experiences. 99 Islands It isn’t as well known as Matsushima Bay, and its nearly one hundred islands may not shine in the same…
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Finding Peace in Nagasaki
There’s a hint of dark tourism in Nagasaki. But behind that darkness is light, and a message for peace. Stories relating to the atom bomb blast that effectively ended the Second World War are everywhere in Nagasaki. Yukiko’s is of her old school. Shiroyama Elementary was just 500 metres from the hypocentre of the explosion,…
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Calling on Nagasaki’s historic hillside homes
We visit Nagasaki’s most popular attraction, the understated but not overrated Glover Garden Nagasaki’s Glover Garden isn’t your typical Japanese garden. Yes, there’s the pond of carp (kai in Japanese) and trees seemingly bent against their will (to beautiful effect), but absent are the raked pebbles, mossy rocks and toro (Japanese stone lanterns). Of course,…
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Japan’s longtime window on the world
We visit Dejima, where the west’s love affair with Japan could well have begun. It’s a far cry from its place as one of the world’s free market powerhouses, but for two centuries the only point at which trade with Japan existed was on a small island just off Nagasaki: the fan-shaped Dejima. For 218…
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Finding the Sixth Beatle
MARK HARADA grabs a ticket to ride across The Beatles universe in Liverpool – and loves it (yeah, yeah, yeah). George Martin was often labelled the fifth Beatle for his work as producer on nearly all of The Beatles’ music; the band’s long-time manager, Brian Epstein, was also called the fifth Beatle, as was original…
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AppeTHAIsing Chiang Mai
We go from Thai food lovers to Thai food cooks – and it only takes a trip to Chiang Mai to do it. When I cook them at home, my green and red curries are indistinguishable, my Pad Thai tastes nothing like its takeaway counterpart and my papaya salad is just okay. But these are…
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Feeding the mind, body & soul in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai offers visitors an all-encompassing, rewarding experience far from the party towns of Pattaya and Phuket. Here, we share some of its riches. FOR THE MIND – As Thailand’s cultural capital, Chiang Mai is considered the centre of Thai art, with artists from around the country – and indeed the world – converging on the…
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Hotel review – Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows
We walk in the footsteps of a list of luminaries to stay at Aggie Grey’s Hotel. But this recently reopened property is even better now. Samoa’s Aggie Grey’s Hotel has a storied past; it was written mostly during the Second World War, when the hotel became a favourite amongst US servicemen looking for a little…